They say laughter is the best medicine, but 8 out of 10 people believe that dancing is also great to make them happier and less stressed.
A survey of 2,000 British adults found that three quarters of them feel “happy” after dancing at home.
Almost half said that their mental health improved after dancing.
The survey, commissioned by Zumba, found that 67% of respondents would like to be able to dance more often, although 41% admitted to being “pretty bad” or “scary”.
Psychologist Dr. Peter Lovatt said:
“The positive effects of dancing have been shown in the scientific literature to help our stress and anxiety in many ways, particularly in these difficult times.
Dancing helps the mind to detach itself from established patterns of thought and this is why dancing reduces stress”.
Dr. Lovatt continues:
“When we move our body, it releases various neurochemical substances. Opioid receptors become more active, which means that our pain threshold increases. We feel less pain when we dance.”
In the survey, more than a quarter (28%) of respondents said that dancing provided them with good memories and 23% said it helps them connect with friends.
Almost four out of 10 (37%) even said that music helps them forget all their problems, and 42% believe that dancing allows them to “lose themselves”.
“Doing something more physical can be a great way to reduce stress and anxiety, especially in uncertain times like these.“